Metal News for December 26, 2011

We post metal news every day, throughout the day, covering thousands of metal bands including underground and unsigned bands. You are currently browsing the news archive, but you can also find news by band.

News Archive

37 news articles posted on this day.

Halcyon Way will be supporting Delain on an upcoming European tour along with Trillium. More dates have now been added to the tour, with complete details available in the tour poster below. Halcyon Way is touring in support of the new release "IndoctriNation" (reviewed here).

Capital Chaos has posted a video interview online with Fallujah, which was conducted at the Boardwalk in Orangevale, CA where the band was performing a CD release show. The video clip is available below.

You can also listen to the song "Enslaved Eternal Phenomenon" off the new album "The Harvest Wombs" by heading over to this location.

Canadian heavy metal act The Order of Chaos has posted a video clip online of guitarist John Simon Fallon working on a solo for the song "Sexwitch," which will be appearing on the band's upcoming third album.

Watch the footage below, or find more details on the band via The Order of Chaos' Facebook profile.

Mediaskare Records has posted a video clip online for the As Blood Runs Black song "The Brighter Side Of Suffering," which is taken off the "Allegiance" album. Mediaskare Records also commented on the release of the clip:

"Earlier today we released a music video from As Blood Runs Black that was never released years ago. This is our Christmas present to all of you for the amazing support these past few years!"

Brazilian act Dune Hill recently released the "Big Bang Revolution" EP, and the band is now streaming the tracks from the release online. Check out the songs from the EP in the SoundClound player available after the jump.

French industrial metal act Jenx has released a teaser video clip online for the band's upcoming second album "Enuma Elish," which is set for release in April of 2012. Check out the clip below, or find more info on the band by heading over to the Jenx Facebook profile.

I was able to film Classhole's set when they performed at The Mushroom Record Store in New Orleans, LA on December 20th. This was Classhole's second performance, and they opened for Ramming Speed at the decades old record store. Classhole is formed by Matt Russell (vocals), co-owner of Siberia, former singer of TireFire, Grant Tom (bassist), guitarist of haarp, Gary Mader (guitarist), bassist of Eyehategod and guitarist of Outlaw Order, and Paul Webb (drummer), guitarist of Spickle. More...

Catalepsy has posted a behind the scenes look at Josh Anderson on his second day of vocal tracking for "Westboro" at Matt Johnson's Revelation Studios. "Westboro" will be released online on December 27th, 2011. Check out the studio clip below.

Symphonic black metal act Arcane Grail will release the new EP "Tribute to the Past" on December 31st via Grailight Productions. A song off the EP is now available for streaming online. Check out the band's cover of the Type O Negative track "Love You To Death" in the player below.

The release, which is dedicated to the memory of Peter Steele, was mixed and mastered by Arsafes (Kartikeya) at Arsafes Records and features the following guest musicians: Fedor Vetrov (Nevid, Omela), Belf (Stigmatic Chorus, Ashen Light, Nevid, Izmoroz), Wsegard (Atra Mustum, Emerald Night) and Igor Kiv (famous Russian soundproducer and session guitarist).

Sydney, Australia's Dragonsclaw has posted another new track online from the band's upcoming album "Prophecy." Listen to "Life Through Anubis' Eyes" through the YouTube player below. You can check out the previously posted song "The Unknown Horizon" at this location.

Alabama metal act O Afflicted City has posted a track online from the band's demo EP. Check out the song "Foundations" through the YouTube clip below. More details on O Afflicted City can be found via the band's Facebook profile here.

New Zealand classic heavy metal act Razorwyre has posted a promo track online from the band's upcoming debut album "Another Dimension," which will be released in cooperation with Underground Power and Inferno Records. Check out the promo clip for "The Infinite/Desert Inferno" in the player below. You can also listen to more Razorwyre tracks at the band's Facebook profile. More...

U.K. act Chapters of Eden has posted a teaser trailer online for an upcoming three track EP, which will see release on January 20th, 2012. Check out the video clip below, or listen to more Chapters of Eden music by navigating to the band's Facebook profile.

Hungary based act Jeremie M. Blackwell Noiseworks Co. has posted a track online for streaming via YouTube. Check out the song "Psychotrogers" in the player below, or find more details on the band by heading over to Facebook.

Polish act Iubaris has checked in with the following announcement about gearing up to enter the studio and recording new material:

"In the begining of March next year, Iubaris will enter Sounds Great Promotion studio to record songs for their second mini album - Ars Sathanae II. It will be the next part of songs previously considered for the complete Ars Sathanae album, which was split in two Ep's.

"The record will once again be produced by Kuba Mankowski, and the band's lead composer Antares. In the meantime, Iubaris is busy recording acoustic versions of songs from their previous release. You can listen to the first track on youtube." More...

Malta based death metal act Ktinodia has posted a new song online titled "Slaves of a Dying State," which you can hear in the player below. For more on Ktinodia, navigate your browser to the band's Facebook profile.

California's Chrome Zombie has posted rehearsal video clips online, which can be viewed below, and the band also commented:

"Since April 2011, Doom/Grindcore trio Chrome Zombie has had its misadventures of fights, break-ups, and are still trying to learn how to cooperate with each others ego to create the music they desire. Founded by members Eric DeSouza(Guitar) Chris Ambrose(Bass) and John Paul Robertson(Drums), they say 'FuckYou!' to the rest of the world.

"Having played shows at the Red Hat in Concord, California, they have also had positive and negative feedback from people about their demo tapes, as Chris Reifert of Autopsy admires the bands overall sound, other listeners may disregard the bands music as music with low sound quality and terrible production, in the end, they just play their music.

"Chrome Zombie is indeed a fucking true live band with solid dysfunctional riffs and imperfect drum sound that creates something even more pure than death. Chrome Zombie proves that you don't need an audience to convey your sound, if the individual is satisfied, thats all that matters, and hails to those who appreciate self-production of ones own tape-recorded songs. If recordings aren't enough to brothle you, here's some of their video links to prove the fucking point." More...

The Summer Breeze festival organizers have issued the following announcement about confirming Amon Amarth as a headliner for the festival's 2012 edition:

"Behind the 24th door of our Advent Calendar there's none other than our favourite vikings AMON AMARTH, who are now confirmed as the second headliner for the 15th SUMMER BREEZE Open Air beside Subway To Sally.

"It's almost incredible the way our Swedish friends have enjoyed a continued rise to the top of the scene. Top-ten chart entries, headliner slots on all major festivals, sold-out tours, enthusiastic fans everywhere – by now Mr Johan Hegg and Co. have become real stars, but they still have their feet firmly planted on the ground, because they haven't forgotten where they started. And that's why they like to return to those places, one of them definitely being SUMMER BREEZE!

"What, it's Christmas already?!? How time flies. Our SUMMER BREEZE Advent Calendar had only just begun, and now it's all over again. We hope we were able to fulfill your wishes and expectations, and perhaps even surprise you with one or two of the confirmed bands.

"Here's a final overview of our Advent Calendar, which has been making you company for the last 24 days: More...

French act Imperial released the new album "Chaos" last month through Structures Métalliques, and the band is now streaming a track off the release. Check out the song "La Canine" via the SoundCloud player below. The "Chaos" track listing is as follows:

No matter how hard metal tries to separate itself from comedy, the two modes of entertainment are often linked, whether by accident or on purpose. Manowar might feel overwhelmingly macho and barbaric wearing cod pieces and furry boots in promotional pictures, but these visual statements are so over the top that some will find the sentiment absolutely hilarious. The grave nature of black metal can also be construed as humorous, especially the visual aspect. Some may view corpse paint as a morbid, anti-Christian statement, while others perceive the strategy as something reserved for children’s birthday parties.

Still, some bands make no qualms about having a sense of humor. Bands such as S.O.D. and Anthrax may pummel their fans with no-bullshit thrash metal, but always make time for joke songs such as “I’m the Man” and “King at the King.” These groups are musicians first and comedians second, whether their songs or presence was intentionally humorous or not. However, in the past few years comedians have started a new trend.

Trend might not be the correct term, certainly three albums do not constitute a “scene,” but metal labels are starting to sign comedians. Each of the three comedians signed to a metal label—Brian Posehn, Jamieson and Jim Florentine—are connected to metal in some fashion. Jamieson and Florentine join metal journalist Eddie Trunk as hosts of VH1 Classic’s “That Metal Show.” Posehn isn’t considered a metal expert like Jamieson and Florentine, but he is an unabashed fan. Jamieson and Posehn include humorous metal songs on both of their respective album. However, they are the opposite of the thrash bands listed above; they are comedians first and metal musicians second.

Brian Posehn

Brian Posehn was the first comedian to sign to a metal label. In 2006, Relapse Records picked up Posehn’s first album “Live in: Nerd Rage.” Posehn’s first album, at least the stand up portion, was recorded as part of the “Comedians of Comedy” tour and includes a sketch with Bob Odenkirk. Odenkirk and Posehn now each other from the HBO skit comedy show “Mr. Show” and its movie spin off “Run Ronny Run.”

Posehn also recorded a couple of songs. “Mr. Show” produced the joke-metal band Titanica whose performance of “Try Again” appears on the said album. Posehn also performs in Posehn, which features Scott Ian [Anthrax], Joey Vera [Armored Saint], John Tempesta [White, The Cult] and Brian himself on vocals. His solo-dubbed group performs a track called “Metal By Numbers,” which rips on metal stereotypes. His 2010 Relapse release “Fart and Weiner Jokes” includes more social commentary about the metal community. “More Metal Than You” is about how metal head often turn being a fan into a competition. Additionally, Brian Posehn is an actor and writer who has appeared in front of the camera on “The Devil’s Rejects,” “The Sarah Silverman Show” and “Seinfeld.”

Texas act Bitter End has released a new official music video for the song "The Hand That Feeds," which is available via the player below. "The Hand That Feeds" is taken off the album "Guilty As Charged, " released by Deathwish Inc. To hear more of Bitter End's music, head over to the band's MySpace music profile here.

Asher Media has posted a sampler album online for streaming and free download featuring 13 bands on the company's roster. You can check out the songs through the player below or via Bandcamp. The track listing is as follows:

The Devin Townsend Project's "Contain Us" box-set for the band's quadrology ("Ki," "Addicted," "Deconstruction," and "Ghost") is now available for purchase at CM Distro here.

The creator of this special tribute box-set, Man Alive's Tom Bejgrowicz (who also conceived the Misfits Coffin box-set), has now posted a new stop-motion video of "Contain Us" online. Check out the clip below. More...

Fan-filmed footage has been posted online from Goreaphobia's year-end one-off show at Saint Vitus Bar in New York on December 17th, 2011. Check out the clip of Goreaphobia performing "The Attractor" in the player below.

I Spit Ashes has checked in with the following announcement about inking a deal with Massacre Records:

"Dear fans and friends, today is one of the coolest days in our lives. Do you remember as we told you there would be big news from I Spit Ashes? Now the time has come to kill this agonizing waiting and let you be part of our history. Read the great news...

"After we took long time to find out WHO we are, WHAT we do and WHERE we want to go. Always aiming for something...and worked our butts off. Never worked without background or a certain plan... founding of the band, searching a line-up, songwriting, the first gigs, demo-record, more gigs, better songwriting, searching for sound, searching for a studio, recording the debut-album... and everything assembled like WE wanted it. Next step?

"...now we got what we always wanted: We reached another milestone in the history of I Spit Ashes! I Spit Ashes goes to --- MASSACRE RECORDS --- !!! More...

Sarah Jezebel Deva has checked in with the following announcement about carrying on the Angtoria project under a different name:

"Chris Rehn & Sarah Jezebel Deva, both founding members & songwriters of the band Angtoria, will be continuing where Angtoria left off some 5 years ago.

"The music will continue in the same vein as 'God Has A Plan For Us All,' blending the world of epic orchestral music with metal, HOWEVER!, we sadly have to change the name due to reasons beyond our control.

"Writing for the new album will start in January and of course, we will update you with the new name & our progress. I hope this makes many of you happy & sorry for the early post, bit unfair to make you wait."

You can also stay up to date on the latest Sarah Jezebel Deva info by heading over to her official Facebook profile.

Haemic has posted a preview of the song "Eyes of Evil" from the upcoming 2012 album "Fields of Sanguine." Give the sample track a listen via the player below. Haemic's Ray Heberer also commented on the song:

"A little update, from my little recording room in Canada. Hope you enjoy it, the guitars are mixed a bit back though."

Terrordrome has issued the following announcement about releasing the "Seeds of Fear, Begotten" 7" EP:

"Terrordrome with the help of Floga Records, Sevared Records, Noise Effect and under exclusive license from Grindethic Records are reissuing Terrordrome's side of the split CD with Oath To Vanquish, 'Begetters Of Fear and Ruin' in a limited to 500 copies 7" EP vinyl.

Suicide Silence has released a video clip online of the band buying Christmas presents for children, which can be viewed below. Suicide Silence also commented:

"We sold the shirt Mitch wore in the 'You Only Live Once' video and spent all of the money on toys for less fortunate kids. A very special thanks to the Variety Boys & Girls Club: Pueblo Del Sol Unit in Downtown Los Angeles for all of their cooperation. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!"

For more info on Suicide Silence, head over to the band's official Facebook profile at this location. More...

Darkest Hour, which recently parted ways with the band's drummer, has now posted a year in review recap video. Check out the clip after the jump. The band also had this to say:

"Thanks to all of you out there who have helped keep the dream alive in 2011. We covered so much ground and there is still so much more to go. But, for now, a time to give thanks to you all! With out you, we are lost…much love from the DH! Enjoy what’s left of 2011!" More...

Jasun and Troy Tipton have been an unstoppable duo for over two decades. Making a name for themselves with the progressive metal act Zero Hour, they astounded listeners with Jasun’s guitar antics and Troy’s technical bass playing. However, in 2009, Zero Hour went on hiatus as Troy had ulnar nerve entrapment surgery. Ever since then, they have been busy with Cynthesis and a new instrumental project, Abnormal Thought Patterns. Abnormal Thought Patterns allows the brothers to let loose without a vocalist or traditional song structuring holding them back.

With an EP recently released, and new material being written, the band doesn’t seem to be a one-and-done project. Jasun Tipton spoke to me in early December about Abnormal Thought Patterns, an update on Troy’s condition, and what the future of Zero Hour may be. More...

New Jersey death metal band Grimus has posted a new song online entitled "I, Destroyer." The recording is from one of their pre-production sessions. The band plans on going into the studio next month. Listen to the track below:

The full lineup has been revealed for the upcoming 2012 "Fight the Silence" North American tour. The trek is set to be headlined by For Today with support coming from A Skylit Drive, Stick To Your Guns, Mychildren Mybride and Make Me Famous. You can view a trailer for the tour below.